1

“The Wishing Hand” by Linda Brunker

located in the courtyard of the

Department of Education & Skills in Dublin

Reprinted from the October 2012 Edition of the Boston Irish Reporter

Assessing the Prospects for an Emerging Ireland

A group of 14 Irish American Partnership members including several Bostonians travelled to Ireland this

past August to see for themselves the difficulties and opportunities facing the Irish people. The

extraordinary tour visited 21 sites, and talked with 50-60 Irish leaders North and South over four and

one half days.

Politicians, educators, community leaders, schools and both governments welcomed the Americans.

Led by John Murray of New Jersey, Chairman of The Irish American Partnership, the Americans were

honored at every stop receiving detailed and valuable information not usually available to the average

visitor.

Eight of the participants were from the Boston area, three from Ireland and one each from Washington

DC, New Jersey and Virginia.

Sunny, ideal Irish weather greeted the participants in both the North and South. Transportation was

easy in a luxurious bus and Irish hospitality was evident everywhere.

This was a strenuous hard-working trip however, attempting to learn the value of Partnership funding in

Ireland and the determination of future funding in the years ahead. Everyone survived, smiling as each

day was over, and greeting each other during the next morning’s ride to our first appointment of the

day.

2

University College Dublin,

Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School

St. Patrick’s Teaching College, Drumcondra, Dublin

Partnership Directors Liam Connellan of Dublin, Charles Donahue of Boston, Tom Nicholson of

Virginia, and Partnership Executive Director Mary Sugrue McAleer, assisted Chairman Murray in

delivering $55,000 in grants to Irish schools and training centers.

Other mission participants were: Gil Sullivan Boston, Sean Moynihan Boston, Monique Miller

Washington DC, Mary Henderson Boston, John Holian Boston, Josephine Shields Boston, Marie

Connellan Dublin, and Niall PowerSmith Dublin.

The trip was focused in three areas:

First was an important emphasis on the work of the Partnership in supporting Irish education with visits

to four Universities, a high-tech training organization in Dublin, and three schools in Belfast.

Second was an interface with both governments in several meetings to discuss the Partnership’s focus

on education and learn more about current conditions.

Finally there were several opportunities for more social engagements with government personnel and

universities. We had the good fortune to squeeze in visits to the new, highly successful Titanic Museum

in Belfast, the regeneration of the Crumlin Gaol in Belfast, and enjoy a night at the Abbey Theatre in

Dublin.

Our first day began on the campus of University College

Dublin’s Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School. Brief rain

drops and a smiling Dean Ciaran O hOgartaigh greeted us at

the door. A number of professional presentations followed the

traditional coffee service reminding us that the Smurfit

Business School is one of the finest in the world producing

highly trained future leaders of Ireland’s business community.

The Partnership is funding multiple year scholarship programs

at Smurfit and Chairman Murray and Executive Director McAleer

presented a grant of $12,500 on behalf of Partnership donors. We met and listened to the first

scholarship winner describe her assigned project, “Ireland as a catalyst for United States Investment in

the European Common Market.”

St. Patrick’s Teaching College in Drumcondra, Dublin was

next. The Partnership has been working with St. Patrick’s

for over eight years developing extensive research and

training science programs for rural Western Ireland primary

3

Stormont - Belfast, Northern Ireland

Fastrack to Information Technology (FIT) in Dublin

schools. Dr. Paula Kilfeather and her assistant, Greg Smith, have managed the various programs on

behalf of the school and the Partnership. Science teaching is a central focus of Partnership programs in

the belief that a highly trained workforce is a vital component of Ireland’s future success.

One of Ireland’s most ingenious and lauded programs

supported by the Partnership is the “Fastrack to IT” (FIT)

in Glasnevin Dublin. Training underutilized talents for

various high-tech jobs is their specialty. Concentrating on

the unemployed and underemployed turning them into full

time high technology employees. Run by its President

Peter Davitt, FIT is expanding into the North, specifically

Belfast. The Partnership presented a grant of $10,000 for

the program. We were privileged to hear a rather

emotional talk by Denny Vitty of East Belfast describing

the extreme need and value of the FIT program to the young people of the North.

The trip to Belfast was an experience for all of us. The new four lane highway has cut the time between

Belfast and Dublin down to two hours. We were provided with song sheets courtesy of Charlie Donahue

and woke ourselves up by singing part of the way. A pleasant ride in the Irish countryside. In fact we

were told that it is now faster to travel to the North by automobile than by train. Just a few years ago,

before the new highways, it took over four hours to complete the same trip. Infrastructure such as these

roads built up during Ireland’s and Europe’s better days will serve Ireland well over the next years.

The seat of government in Northern Ireland is located in the Stormont group

of buildings in East Belfast. The main Stormont building is located at the top of

a prominent picturesque, large hill. A wide road up to the building greets all

visitors with a striking view. Stormont building is now painted stone white.

During World War II it became a bombing target for German planes and was

completely painted black – some of which is still showing. Stormont Castle

used for administrative offices is off to the right.

Our bus made it up the hill and we were ushered into a meeting room with six

members of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLAs) representing the major

political parties. It was a fascinating session.

4

Meeting with the Northern Ireland Assembly

Partnership delegation meets with

Belfast Lord Mayor, Gavin Robinson

Colaiste Feirste, Belfast

Each of our participants had the opportunity to ask questions

mostly concerning the problems facing primary and secondary

schools. The assembly men and women were cordial to each

other without any real disagreements. There was a surprising

consensus regarding the prevalence of illiteracy in the protestant

primary schools especially amongst young boys. Unfortunately it

appears that many families, whose parents cannot read or write

either, don’t seem to care. We talked for nearly two hours and

then posed for the obligatory pictures.

The members of the Assembly who spent the two hours with us were: Alasdair McDonnell MP, MLA

and Leader of the SDLP, Sean Rogers MLA SDLP, Mike Nesbitt MLA Leader of the UUP, Leslie Cree

MLA UUP, Jennifer McCann MLA SF, and Sammy Douglas MLA DUP.

The group was treated to a visit with Belfast’s new Lord

Mayor, Alderman Gavin Robinson of the DUP, at Belfast’s

venerable City Hall.

Mayor Robinson was a very impressive young man. He

had prepared himself well, knew the Partnership’s history

and programs, and presented mementos to each member

of the group. He is a leader to pay attention to in the future.

That evening we were guests at Hillsborough Castle, the Queen’s residence when she comes to

Ireland, for a formal dinner hosted by Northern Ireland Minister and Member of the British Parliament

The Right Hon. Hugo Swire MP. It was a grand evening with guests Baroness May Blood and Sir

George Quigley, the Partnership’s Northern Ireland member of the Board of Directors. We were taken

on a tour of the gardens and enjoyed entertaining, if sometimes intense, discussions.

Most important to our Mission to Northern Ireland were our

visits to three schools that had received recent grants from the

Partnership.

Colaiste Feirste a thriving 550 student Irish speaking

secondary school just off the Falls road - courtesy of Principal

Mícheál Mac Giolla Ghunna who explained the history and

growth of the school.

5

Glengormley Integrated Primary School

with Baroness May Blood, Belfast

Trinity College Access Program scholarship recipients

Dublin City University President Brian

MacCraith with DCU Access Program

scholarship recipients

The Glengormley Integrated Primary School in Newtownabbey

- courtesy of Principal Nigel Arnold who reviewed the rapid

expansion of the school and its severe need for more space

and qualified teachers. We were also greeted there by our

friend Baroness May Blood with whom we work in providing

support for such schools.

The Tullycarnet Primary School in East Belfast - Principal Eileen Quinn who discussed the illiteracy

problems in the neighborhood and showed us the use of the electronic “White Board” as a teaching

tool.

Back in Dublin, after another short bus trip down from Belfast, the next day we visited Ireland’s

Industrial Development Agency (IDA) headquarter offices and received a briefing on IDA’s progress

and accomplishments over the years from their Head of Communications Emmet Oliver. There is no

doubt as to their serious contribution to the Irish economy.

We had lunch at the famed Buswells Hotel with Jimmy Deenihan T.D. Minister for Arts, Heritage and

the Gaeltacht. Executive Director Mary Sugrue McAleer presented Mr. Deenihan with $7,500 from the

Chicago Partnership membership for five schools in North Kerry. After the presentation, Mr. Deenihan

took us on a tour of the Dail Eireann across the street.

After a visit to Trinity College Dublin, to observe their

Access Scholarship program funded by the Partnership, the

group then attended a welcoming reception courtesy of the

Department of Foreign Affairs at Iveagh House. We were

greeted by former Boston Deputy Consul General Deidre Ni

Fhalluin and a contingent of old friends going back a number

of years – a very pleasant reunion. Ireland’s Ambassador

Michael Collins and Niall Burgess Director-General of the

Department were our hosts.

Our last evening was hosted by Dublin City University (DCU)

President Brian MacCraith on the DCU Campus. Before dinner, the

group met with DCU’s Access program managers and several of

6

With Minister Ruairi Quinn

the students who had received Partnership Access Scholarships. Executive Director Mary Sugrue

McAleer, Chairman Murray, and Director Tom Nicholson presented a grant of $13,000 to President

MacCraith for DCU’s special Northern Ireland Access program.

In a most engaging and productive conversation over dinner President MacCraith, Partnership

Chairman John Murray, and Partnership Director Tom Nicholson discussed many aspects of Irish

education and how the Partnership might help in the future.

On Friday morning our last and perhaps most important meeting was held

at the Department of Education and Skills with Minister Ruairi Quinn T.D.

In an open discussion, the Partnership received the Minister’s advice, with

his assurance of not only the gratefulness of the Irish people, but also the

support of his Department.

Make no mistake – Ireland is moving forward – both North and South – dealing with its problems and

planning aggressively for its future. The Irish American Partnership’s support, especially for education,

is welcome and can make a vital difference.

Joseph F. Leary, Jr. President

Upper left to right: courtyard of the Dept. of Education & Skills, Dept. of Foreign Affairs, and with DCU Access students

Lower left to right: Stormont MLAs, Hillsborough Castle, and with Baroness May Blood